Trader moots swoop for Scoot offshoot Loot

NEWS The UK-based company appointed Merrill Lynch to access its strategic options late last week and reports have surfaced that French rival Trader.com has made a bid. Sources close to Scoot have also reported that Vivendi Universal, which already holds 22 per cent of the company's shares, could be a potential partner after their alliance in November 1999 to set up Scoot Europe. Despite Scoot Europe having 22,400 businesses signed up in December 2000 and with 85,000 expected by the end of the year, its shares continue to plummet. After its £3.20 high in March last year they have hit an all time low of only 13p per share.